Director's Corner

Tragic death is a reminder we must do more

Here at Caltrans, we are dedicated to creating, maintaining and constantly improving the state’s vast transportation system. We strive to make that system safe, efficient and, in terms of the environment and technology, forward-looking. This is important work that we all take seriously and can justifiably feel proud in doing.

We must not forget, however, that it can be dangerous work. On the morning of June 3 on Interstate 80 near Vacaville, our colleague Quanda McGadney was killed by a hit-and-run driver. A landscape maintenance worker and department employee since 2018, Quanda left behind a young daughter and two sisters, among other loved ones and friends. Her death was tragic and deeply disappointing. Why does this kind of thing happen, despite all the precautionary measures (“Be Work Zone Alert,” “Slow for the Cone Zone,” the “Move Over” law, etc.) we take?

During the latter part of spring, mere weeks before Quanda lost her life in Solano County, all of Caltrans’ dozen districts and Headquarters conducted annual Workers Memorial ceremonies. One of the fortunate things we were able to say at these events was that no Caltrans worker had been killed on the job since 2018.

We expressed gratitude for this fatality-free stretch, our longest in nearly 75 years. But we also emphasized that we needed to remain vigilant. Safety can never be taken for granted. We always can do more to help protect the traveling public and our most valuable resource, all of you.

In this issue of CT News, you can read more about Quanda and see photographs of our Workers Memorial ceremonies throughout the state. We have good news to share, including our just having won an AASHTO award for an innovative information-graphic project.

Good news is abundant in our department. Let us acknowledge and savor it. In  honor of Quanda and all Caltrans workers who died before her, we must do our very best to make California’s transportation system safer than it has ever been – as we strive for zero deaths and serious injuries by 2050.